Donald Trump creates havoc in Tory leadership race by singling out Boris Johnson and THREE big-hitters — but ignoring the rest

TROUBLE-making Donald Trump created havoc in the Tory leadership race by playing the frontrunners off against each other.

Chucking all diplomatic protocol out the window, the visiting US President publicly singled out Boris Johnson,Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove for the boost of face to face meetings while here.

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Donald Trump interferes with the Tory leadership contest during his trip to the UKCredit: AFP or licensors

But he ignored the remaining eight in the high stakes contest.

And while outgoing PM Theresa May stood next to him awkwardly, he also sprayed compliments on his favourites to succeed her.

During the two leaders’ grand Foreign Office press conference, Mr Trump said: “I know Boris. I’ve known him for a long time. He’d do a very good job.

“I know Jeremy, he’d do a very good job. I don’t know Michael”.

Turning to Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt in the front row, the carefree President teased: “Would he do a good job, Jeremy? Tell me.”

Embarrassed Mr Hunt murmured in response: “Of course”.

And Mrs May’s husband Philip was spotted in the audience holding his head in his hands and shaking it.

Mr Gove had irritated Mr Trump by slamming his policy on Iran as “sabre rattling”.

I don’t know exactly what your timing is, but stick around, let’s do this deal

Donald Trump

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It is a major breach of protocol for a visiting head of state to wade into ant domestic political strife, let alone a tense battle to pick the nation’s new leader.

But Mr Trump also paid a series of glowing tributes to Mrs May’s three years as Premier.

Calling her “a tremendous professional”, the president told the PM: “You love your country dearly”.

He also rowed back heavily on his earlier criticism of Theresa May’s Brexit deal failings to also tell her on the podium: “Perhaps you won’t be given the credit you deserve if you do something, but I think you deserve a lot of credit. I really do”.

Earlier in the day, as the two leaders hosted a round table of business leaders in St James’s Palace, Mr Trump even suggested Mrs May stayed on in No10 for longer.

He said to the PM in front of the TV cameras: “I don’t know exactly what your timing is, but stick around, let’s do this deal”.

Like Prime Ministers and Presidents before us, and no doubt those that will come after – we can also differ sometimes on how to confront the challenges we face

Theresa May

Mr Trump also praised the pair’s work together on the military front, insisting that they had “obliterated” ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and hailed the UK-US’s special relationship as “the greatest alliance the world has ever known”.

After two hours of talks with their senior aides in No10, the US leader also predicted London and Washington would smooth over their differences on how to deal with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

He added: “We have an incredible intelligence relationship and we will be able to work out any differences.

“We did discuss it - I see absolutely no limitations, we’ve never had limitations.”

In a far cry from their initial White House love-in during their first meeting in January 2017, the PM pointedly didn’t offer Mr Trump her hand to steady his public walk down some Foreign Office steps, despite POTUS’s known fear of stairs.

Mr Trump was “visibly moved” by a bagpipes performance to wrap up the dinner

Mrs May was also swift to point out the pair had differences.

The PM said: “Like Prime Ministers and Presidents before us, and no doubt those that will come after – we can also differ sometimes on how to confront the challenges we face.

“I have always talked openly with you, Donald, where we have taken a different approach – and you have done the same with me.”

After their No10 talks, the PM gave the president and his family a personal tour of the Churchill War Rooms.

Mr Trump also hosted the PM and her top Cabinet ministers for dinner at Winfield House last night, along with Prince Charles and wife Camilla.

High spirited Mr Trump was said to be in an excellent mood after the Royal Family’s wooing on Monday.

One senior British figure at the state banquet in Buckingham Palace said Mr Trump was “visibly moved” by a bagpipes performance to wrap up the dinner.

VISIT WITH NIGEL FARAGE

One old friend of the president’s who also at the dinner, American businessman Christopher Ruddy, said: “I think the President is not easily awed.

“He and Melania, I think, were blown away by the spectacular pomp and circumstance.”

Mr Trump’s meetings with the leadership contenders come after he todlk The Sun last week that some of them have been pleading with his fro his endorsement in the race.

The president will see Mr Gove and Mr Hunt today, which he will spend part of in Portsmouth to commemorate the eve of D-Day tomorrow with 15 other world leaders.

It has emerged that Mr Hunt has also developed strong links with the president’s son in law, Jared Kushner, who is his foreign policy advisor for the Middle East.

Donald Trump speaks to the media after meeting with Theresa May during his UK state visit

The Foreign Secretary regularly WhatsApps Mr Kushner, who is married to Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka.

Mop-haired senior Tory Boris was forced to turn down his meeting with Mr Trump because it would have clashed with his preparation for Tory leadership hustings in front of MPs last night.

The former Foreign Secretary had a “friendly and productive” 20-minute phone call with POTUS late on Monday night instead.

Mr Trump also invited a number of senior Brexiteers to see him yesterday afternoon at Winfield House, the US ambassador’s residence in Regents Park where he’s staying.